No Smoking with janky lungs.
Wow, I just noticed that today was the 13th. It was 1 year ago today that my lung collapsed and I was forced to quit smoking. I’ve tried many times before but the longest I ever made it was 7 months.
1 year without a cigarette. I am very proud of myself.
I still think about smoking everyday but my condition makes it pretty easy not to light up. This was the 4th collapse in 7 years and I was since diagnosed with something called “Blebs Disease”. It seems to be pretty rare and not that many doctors know what to do about them or why they form. Blebs are little air pockets that form on the lung and if/when they pop it can cause a collapse. I had surgery twice to protect my lungs from another drop, one side in 2001 and the other in April of last year. They did open chest surgery and literally took my lung out and scrubbed it with what is essentially a medical brillo pad. The doc roughs the lung up like a skinned knee and it heals against the chest wall. Not a pleasant experience at all. The blebs still pop but the risk of a collapse is much lower.
This past year has been pretty hellish. I am in pain 24/7 thanks to various after effects from the surgeries. But the real pain comes from the lungs and the constant coming and going of blebs. Every breath I take hurts. I usually keep my breathing shallow because the deeper I go the worse it gets. When a bleb pops it’s like being stabbed with a knife and then it lingers. It seems like the small ones pop all the time. During the surgery they removed 4 that were tennis ball size! Those interested can see my lung pics here. (warning graphic)
I see a pain specialist once a month and have it somewhat under control but this winter has been really rough on me. Colorado has such huge weather swings and I can usually feel it coming a day or two in advance. I love it here but I am not sure how much longer I can take it. Vegas is a consideration but the time has to be right. Maybe after my niece and nephew have graduated….
So yeah…. 1 year…
go me.
- Frank
Possibly Related Posts:
- Random Questions with Jose Canseco
- Random Questions with Dani Ansky Stern
- Happy New Year!
- Holiday Tale pt. 3 of 3
- Holiday Tale – pt 2 of 3
February 13th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Personally, I like the White-fro and sideburns.
Congratz on one year man…it seems to have flown by. For someone that is going home to bury a friend this weekend, I count myself lucky to still have you with us and chasing after your dreams.
Runt.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Frank is THE man.
I love these looks for Charlie, and I can’t wait to see what is to come for his head and face..
February 14th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Awesome comics! My two loves: comics and poker. Bookmarking.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
[...] linked to any of the poker comics I illustrate, so here’s several weeks worth… Previous Episode:« Poker Comics for January: Week [...]
February 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
So, how long after you were first diagnosed with blebs did you stop smoking? I’m 33 year old female just diagnosed and having a hard time. Had surgery and not sure if all the pain I’m having is normal…I’m assuming it is. You have a cool site…nice comics!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
My 2nd collapse and 1st pleurodesis was done back in 2001. I continued to smoke until the most recent collapse last February 13th. I wasn’t given the diagnosis until a few weeks later.
What pain are you having? I have so many different spots it is hard to pinpoint them all.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I know its really, really late for this comic…but is that Chesperito in the first hairstyle? Yeah Mexican cultural humor icons!!